We caught up with the breeder of the Grand Champion Breeding Ewe at the 2023 Indiana Stock Show. We invite you to read our candid interview with Riecke Show Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
She is a BEAR X Freaky Friday. This is the first crop out of BEAR as we purchased him from Hoeing/Hill is the spring in 2022. He is a Saban X Bullseye X Betty.
What makes your operation run smoothly?
Teamwork. We always joke around with my dad (Dean) about his role within the operation. Thankful for his management and work he does in the background. I (Cody) normally deal with the sales and public relations so we all have our place.
How many head do you run?
We are currently running around 200 mature ewes.
Do you have another job besides raising sheep? If so, what’s your occupation?
My parents Dean and Jody farm row crops: Corn, Soybeans and Wheat plus Alfalfa for the ewes.
I (Cody) am an independent sales rep for Pioneer Seeds.
In your opinion, who has been the most influential ram across the industry?
Drop the Mic seems to continuously show up in the background of ewes, rams and winning wethers everywhere.
What’s your favorite livestock show?
Indiana State Fair. Growing up showing and competing at the ISF definitely helped fuel my competitive instincts. This have transitioned from showman to breeder as we strive to continually improve the flock to stay competitive at arguably the toughest state fair there is.
Do you prefer online sales or live sales?
Actually going to throw a twist and go with Private Treaty Sales. We have always enjoyed folks coming to the farm to find the right animal for their goals. This has created life long relationships that we value immensely. 3 years ago we started having an Online Sale and really appreciate how we have been able to broaden our footprint across the US. The past 2 years we have started to get back into the live sales and we have enjoyed the networking opportunity they allow with fellow breeders.
